Howdy, Jeremy, and thanks for moseying by planDisney! I'm thrilled to hear that your little cowpoke loves horses, and I can't think of a more magical place to bond with our four-hooved friends than at Walt Disney World Resort. From Rapunzel's pal Maximus to Woody's bestie Bullseye, horses are ingrained in Disney lore. Let's see how you can saddle up for success on your upcoming visit.
I chatted with a cowgirl Cast Member who works at
Tri-Circle-D Ranch at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort to see what options your daughter will have; I have good news to report! She said the ranch typically has a few special steeds available for pony rides for kiddos who fall in that middle ground. Yee-haw!
Your child should be able to enjoy a loop or two in the corral on the back of a larger-sized pony. The Cast Member told me that these gorgeous creatures are chosen for their gentleness, as they're typically nearing retirement age. They're the perfect size for those taller kiddos who aren't quite old enough for trail riding.
Riding the ponies is a walk-up experience, so no need to book in advance. And if you're a guest staying at Fort Wilderness, you can use the internal bus system to head to the stables near Pioneer Playhouse to enjoy the pony experience. If you're staying elsewhere, I recommend taking a bus from
Magic Kingdom Park because it will drop you near the Settlement area and stables.
Due to safety and legal restrictions, there are no exceptions to the 9-year minimum age for
Horseback Trail Riding, so your budding equestrian can look forward to that activity on a future visit. Trail rides can be scheduled
60 days in advance, and my husband and I had a blast on one recently. We have very limited experience on horseback, but the ranch hands gave us detailed instructions and tips to help us sit tall in the saddle!
If you have any additional questions, please feel free to call the number at the bottom of the
Pony Rides page. Those Cast Members will be much obliged to help.
Jeremy, I hope you take your vacation by the reins and have a magical visit! Please stop by
planDisney anytime, partner.
Magic awaits,
Elaine